Knowledge-based expert systems in offshore structural design

With the world growing more complex, computers must help not only by doing ordinary computing but also by doing computing that exhibits intelligence. Efforts in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to intelligent problem solving led to the development of expert systems. An expert system is a useful tool for solving ill defined problems that require a great deal of specialized knowledge that experts in a particular field acquire from long experiences with such tasks. The expert knowledge is contained in what is aptly called a knowledge base.

Offshore structural design is significantly influenced by expert human knowledge. Much of the knowledge is heuristic and attained through experience over the years. The objective of this paper is to highlight the possible use of expert systems in the area of offshore structures. A brief overview of knowledge systems followed by an application example is presented.